It’s hard to believe that marijuana is now legal, in some form, in 33 states in the Union. According to studies conducted in 2017, nearly 37 million people use marijuana in some form. It’s becoming more and more common. Like any substance, it has side effects over time, and there is a direct impact from using it. One direct impact that is currently in question is its general sexual effects on men and women, specifically, erectile dysfunction in men. While the conclusions are skewed, let’s explore the links between this common penis problem and weed.

Erectile Dysfunction: A Quick Review

Let’s all get on the same page about what erectile dysfunction is. Having a once-every-blue-moon issue with summoning the soldier is not classified as erectile dysfunction. Now, if a man has the issue 25 percent of the time, he may be suffering from this common penis problem. Also, it’s not just men of a certain age who are affected by erectile dysfunction. Men of any age can experience it, although a man’s risk of experiencing it does notably increase every decade after age 40.

Marijuana and Sexy Time: The Hard (no pun intended) Data

Since marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug for such a long time, there isn’t a lot of conclusive clinical data on the effects. However, with more and more legalization initiatives, the opportunity for additional studies grows. However, there is at least some information out there, and some of it does talk about erectile dysfunction and other penis problems.

Here’s what’s been studied or anecdotally noted about marijuana use and sex:

- More people are interested in having sex. This was also clinically measured in 2017 with a test group of 50,000 men and women. They found that marijuana use is "independently associated with increased sexual frequency."

- Some users report increased pleasure when having sex. A study in 2019 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women specifically reported more intense orgasms and increased sex drive.

- The 2017 study also found that marijuana use did not seem to cause erectile dysfunction or issues with sexual function in men or women.

While all that makes it sound like marijuana may actually be good for penises, there are some other correlative pieces of information that may counter this belief. Specifically, there are heart and cardiovascular issues that are linked to marijuana, which include:

- When smoked, it delivers many of the same negative effects as tobacco, which can damage the heart and lungs over time, in turn lowering stamina and blood flow to the penis.

- MJ can also increase systolic blood pressure, which is very closely linked to erectile dysfunction. High blood pressure constricts blood vessels, making it hard for blood to reach the penis to produce an erection.

- Marijuana was also seen to stimulate certain receptors in the penile tissue, which contributes to erectile dysfunction.

- Researchers in a 2010 study found a link between marijuana use and men’s difficulty in achieving orgasm.

Marijuana and Medication: Possible Interactions

There have been some reports of marijuana interacting with sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, the most popular erectile dysfunction medication on the market. These effects are especially felt in the cardiovascular system. In one instance, a man had a heart attack while smoking weed and taking Viagra.

It's also important to note that there have been recorded drug interactions with psychiatric medications, asthma medications, blood thinners, antiretroviral medication, and alcohol when smoking or consuming marijuana.

Marijuana and Erectile Dysfunction: In Summary

Since marijuana has been legal only for a little while and in a limited number of states, there just isn’t enough definitive research on its effect on penis problems like erectile dysfunction. At this time, outside of drug interactions, marijuana has been seen as a mostly positive influence on male sexuality and pleasure, but without more clinical data, it’s still an unknown and has been linked to erectile dysfunction in more than one study. The final word: use caution, and if a man does find that he is experiencing erectile dysfunction, he should consult a doctor for a diagnosis.

No matter if a man tokes or not, he should always give his penis a little TLC. One of the best ways to do this is with a penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) that has been created expressly for delicate penile skin. This type of oil not only softens and tones skin but also contains blood flow boosters like vitamin C and L-arginine to keep erections up and the penis active for years to come.